Please consider helping this family. Cheryl Cameron Ripku has been a friend of mine since birth. She is a beautiful person, inside and out, who has some serious medical issues that is creating a dire situation for her and her family. For the last five months, she has been in the hospital fighting for her life. Cheryl suffers from complex PTSD and its corresponding mental health illness of massive depression from her time as a paramedic for 15 years. She no longer has an income, and remarkably WSIB just denied her claim as a first responder suffering from PTSD! We are helping her to appeal this ruling. She is in her sixth month in the hospital and the last two at CamH, Toronto (Canada’s) premier mental health facility. She is undergoing ECT (shock) therapy as her condition is so severe. She has a long recovery path ahead of her.

Her family is doing the best it can to support her. Joe has taken a job here in Toronto at reduced pay so that he can be with her and their daughter. They have recently lost their house in Thunder Bay, as well as both cars as they try to stave off bankruptcy. They are close to losing everything.

If you know Cheryl or Joe, or if you know someone who suffers with mental illness or if I have ever given to one of your causes, can you please consider helping this beautiful family? The funds will be used for basic necessities.